Restore (clean) cast aluminum intake?

[CJ]

So, how would you restore and clean a stained cast aluminum intake?

The most searched hit for the question is this page -->> Edelbrock.com - Intake Manifold Cleaning Tips

But all the products talked about are hard to find.

I'm probably just going to put my Torker II intake in a ceramic bead machine and clean it up - but I would much rather just do it at home...

Any other ideas or thought that you have used that actually work?

 

[BrockGrimes]

Aluminum wheel cleaner, it's formulated to clean but not eat up the aluminum.
This would probably be my choice.

Simplegreen, grease lightning, castrol super cleaner, etc. etc.
Will eat the aluminum up quick and bad.

You can actually remove anodized coating with those products.

 

[coldwater]

Aluma Brite. You can find it at many truck stops, or Maybe NAPA. We used to use it on our fleet of peterbilts. It comes in gallons, and is a concentrate so it'll last a long time.

Aluma Brite Acidic Aluminum Cleaner - Fleet Washing Chemicals

 

[elwood blues]

Never-dull

Home Page


I use the stuff for absolutely everything. We use it in the Navy by the case for polishing brass, but I've found that it works better than SOS pads for cleaning chrome and stainless, I've even used it to remove paint from my black leather work boots.

 

[BrockGrimes]

I prefer tobasco for brass, but yeah never dull, unless it's porus then it's a bit%* to get it clean.
Eagle one cast aluminum wheel cleaner seems to be popular from some reading I've done.
Don't use over cleaner either see reasons posted above.